Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Scottish Government
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ
Contact
Colin Anderson
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM - Scotland
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA10482
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
SPPD - Marketing Services (2026)
Reference number
SP-25-01
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79340000 - Advertising and marketing services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Scottish Procurement and Property Directorate (SPPD) is the organisation tasked with procuring frameworks and contracts on behalf of Scottish public sector bodies. This Framework will be a multi-lot and multi-supplier agreement and will cover the following services: Creative Services, Digital Marketing, Public Relations, Market Research and Events and Video Production.
The framework agreement will be available for use by the Scottish Ministers (including Agencies), Scottish Non-Departmental Public Bodies, offices in the Scottish Administration which are not ministerial offices, cross-border public authorities within the meaning of section 88(5) of the Scotland Act 1998, The Office for the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, councils constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, , bodies registered as social landlords under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, Scottish health boards or special health boards, Student Loans Company Limited, the Commissioner of Northern Lighthouse operating as the Northern Lighthouse Board, Scottish Futures Trust, Equality and Human Rights Commission, Business Stream Ltd, the Business Gateway National Unit at the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, further or higher education institutions being fundable bodies within the meaning of section 6 of the further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005, any public body established by or under the Scotland Act 1998 or any Act of the Scottish Parliament, any association of or formed by one or more of the foregoing, bodies financed wholly or mainly by one or more of the foregoing, bodies subject to management supervision by one or more of the foregoing and bodies more than half of the board of directors or members of which, or, in the case of a group of individuals, more than half of those individuals, being appointed by one or more of the foregoing. In addition to the contracting authorities listed, the framework agreement will be available to charities entered on the Scottish Charity Register and voluntary organisations entered on the Membership Database of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations.
Information about agencies of the Scottish Ministers ,Scottish Non-Departmental Public Bodies and offices in the Scottish Administration which are not ministerial offices are listed at
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-bodies/about/Bodies
Overview of the governance structure of public procurement for Scotland, including the Public Procurement Group.
https://www.gov.scot/publications/public-procurement-governance/
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £40,000,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
Tenders may be submitted for all lots
Maximum number of lots that may be awarded to one tenderer: 6
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Digital Marketing Services
Lot No
3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79340000 - Advertising and marketing services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
It is envisaged that Lot 3 will have five suppliers appointed. Digital Marketing Services include the technical and creative development of digital materials to deliver targeted messaging and engagement with identified audiences in pursuit of Framework Public Body’s objectives and where relevant, to support behaviour change. This can consist of the development, creation and delivery of digital marketing activity, records and databases as well as the creation, collation, and maintenance of digital content across all platforms and responsibility for functionality, usability and analysis of content.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 70
Price - Weighting: 30
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £10,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Public Relations
Lot No
4
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79416000 - Public relations services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
It is envisaged that Lot 4 will have five suppliers appointed. The Supplier shall provide services covering the planning, creative approach, project delivery and evaluation of Public Relations activity as required by individual Framework Public Bodies.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 70
Price - Weighting: 30
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £5,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Market Research Services
Lot No
5
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 73110000 - Research services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
It is envisaged that Lot 5 will have four suppliers appointed. Market Research Services require research specialists to advise and implement a range of market and customer research activities covering many aspects of communications work. This will include the development, creation and delivery of effective and measurable marketing communications programmes as well as elements of wider activities, either individually or a combination of strategic planning, field marketing, direct marketing and partnership marketing.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 70
Price - Weighting: 30
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £5,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Event Services
Lot No
6
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79952000 - Event services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
It is envisaged that Lot 6 will have two suppliers appointed. Events Services cover event management, virtual events, exhibition Management, and technical audio visual services required by Framework Public Bodies.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 70
Price - Weighting: 30
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £2,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Video Production Services
Lot No
7
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 92111000 - Motion picture and video production services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
It is envisaged that Lot 7 will have two suppliers appointed. Video Production services cover video production & post production services required by Framework Public Bodies.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 70
Price - Weighting: 30
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £2,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Creative Services (above 75,000 GBP)
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79341000 - Advertising services
- 79341400 - Advertising campaign services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
It is envisaged that Lot 1 will have five suppliers appointed. Creative Services will include the development, creation and delivery of effective and measurable marketing communications programmes and advertising campaigns as well as elements of wider activities, based on a Framework Public Body's brief, and potentially delivered in partnership with the relevant marketing agencies. The suppliers must have the capability and experience in managing and providing strategic creative development and delivery across the disciplines of this category, where relevant to support behaviour change, including the delivery of advertising activity, content creation, engaging field activity, impactful, targeted and measurable communications. Lot 1 will be for call off contracts above 75,000 GBP.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 80
Price - Weighting: 20
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £14,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Creative Services (below 75,000 GBP)
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79341000 - Advertising services
- 79341400 - Advertising campaign services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
It is envisaged that Lot 2 will have three suppliers appointed. Creative Services will include the development, creation and delivery of effective and measurable marketing communications programmes and advertising campaigns as well as elements of wider activities, based on a Framework Public Body's brief, and potentially delivered in partnership with the relevant marketing agencies. The suppliers must have the capability and experience in managing and providing strategic creative development and delivery across the disciplines of this category, where relevant to support behaviour change, including the delivery of advertising activity, content creation, engaging field activity, impactful, targeted and measurable communications. Lot 2 will be for call off contracts below 75,000 GBP.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 70
Price - Weighting: 30
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £2,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria
This section refers to Section B of Part IV of the SPD (Scotland) and covers question 4B.5
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required
4B.5.1 to 4B.5.3 It is a requirement of this framework/contract that bidders hold or can commit to obtain prior to the commencement of any subsequently awarded framework/contract the types and levels of insurance indicated below:
Public Liability Insurance = not less than 1 million GBP per incident and unlimited in total;
Professional Indemnity Insurance = not less than 1 million GBP per incident and unlimited in total;
Employer's (Compulsory) Liability Insurance = in accordance with any legal obligation for the time being in force.
Bidders who do not currently have or cannot commit to obtaining the levels of Insurance requested may be excluded from the procurement process. In event of award of a Framework, Scottish Government may seek proof that these Insurance provisions have been fully complied with.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
Framework agreement with several operators
Envisaged maximum number of participants to the framework agreement: 26
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2025/S 000-002358
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
7 November 2025
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 9 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
7 November 2025
Local time
12:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published: within 4 years
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.3) Additional information
1.Tenderers may bid for all Lots. However for Creative services (Lots 1 and 2) a Tenderer may only be successful in one of these Lots. For Lots 1 and 2 we will undertake the evaluation in sequence and evaluate Lot 1 first. The Tenderers with the most economically advantageous tender in Lot 1 will be the preferred Tenderers for Lot 1. If any of the preferred Tenderers for Lot 1 also bid for Lot 2, they will be eliminated from consideration for Lot 2. From the remaining bids in Lot 2 the Tenderers with the most economically advantageous tenders will be the preferred Tenderers for Lot 2.
2. In terms of framework ranking in the event of a tie the Authority reserves the right to rank the tenderers in order of highest technical score.
3. Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Sco) Regs 2015.
4. Tenderers must confirm that they will pay staff that are involved in the delivery of services under the framework agreement, and/or any subsequent call off contract, at least the real Living Wage. Tenderers who fail to answer “Yes” to this question will not have their tender considered further.
5. SPD Section 2: Sub-Contractors who are not being relied upon to meet Selection Criteria - A separate SPD will not be required at this Stage.
6. SPD Q4.C.4 - Tenderers must state whether they intend, or do not intend, to use a supply chain to deliver the requirements detailed in the ITT.
If Tenderers intend to use a supply chain to deliver the requirements, they should provide evidence in the SPD that they have the relevant supply chain management and tracking systems in place to ensure a resilient and sustainable supply chain. This will include confirmation that the Tenderer has the systems in place to pay subcontractors through the supply chain promptly and effectively, including evidence of:
a) their standard payment terms
b) ≥95% of all supply chain invoices being paid on time (in accordance with the terms of contract) in the last financial year.
If the bidder is unable to confirm and evidence (b) they must provide an improvement plan, signed by their Director, which commits to improvements in the payment performance.
Acceptable evidence includes but is not limited to:
- Extract of the Tenderer’s terms & conditions detailing standard payment terms;
- A summarised accounts payable report showing payment on time performance;
- Payment Performance Statement Signed by External Auditor;
- Credit Score/Credit Report; or
- An improvement plan, signed by a Director, which commits to improvements in payment performance. Improvement plan template and further evidence examples are held within the Supplier Journey.
Where a Tenderer does not intend to use a supply chain to deliver the requirements detailed in the ITT, they should clearly state this in response to Q4.C.4.
Responses to Q4.C.4 will be evaluated as a “Pass” or “Fail”. Tenderers who do not achieve a “Pass” for this question will not be considered further
7. If you are an SME or 3rd sector organisation interested in working with the public sector, the Supplier Development Programme can help. Attached is a link to the Supplier Development Programme:https://www.sdpscotland.co.uk/?utm_source=pcs&utm_medium=frontpage&utm_content=march16&utm_campaign=SDP03
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 30044. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
A sub-contract clause has been included in this contract. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2363
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:
See ITT documentation contained within PCS-T.
(SC Ref:809081)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
27 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LB
Telephone
+44 1312252525
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
An economic operator that suffers or risks suffering loss or damage attributable to a breach of duty under the Public Contracts(Scotland)Regulations 2015 may bring proceedings in the Sheriff Court or Court of Session